EP1222844B1 - Tool for rotary tiller - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine comprises a chassis hitched to a tractor and a rotor connected the chassis rotated about an axis (17). The rotor comprises a support in the shape of a sheath (30) welded to a web (24). The tool (25) has a connecting part and a working part and is connected in a removable way to the support by a single holding bolt (32). Each tool comprises an open slot directed along the tool mounting direction which allows the tool to be quickly installed in its support.

Description

The present invention relates to the general technical field of agricultural machines and, in particular, agricultural machines having wear elements that can be replaced more or less frequently.

• un châssis pouvant être attelé à un tracteur ;
• un rotor lié audit châssis et animé en rotation lors du travail autour d'un axe, ledit rotor comportant :
  • au moins un support lié à un organe porteur, ledit support comportant au moins un fourreau ;
  • au moins un outil présentant une partie de liaison et une partie de travail et lié de manière amovible à un support respectif, ledit (ou au moins un desdits) outil(s) comporte une fente ouverte dirigée sensiblement suivant un sens de montage dudit outil dans ledit support correspondant ; et
  • un unique moyen de maintien immobilisant ledit outil dans son support respectif.

More specifically, the present invention relates to an agricultural machine comprising:

• a chassis that can be coupled to a tractor;
• a rotor connected to said frame and rotated during work around an axis, said rotor comprising:
  • at least one support connected to a carrier member, said support comprising at least one sleeve;
  • at least one tool having a connecting portion and a working portion and releasably connected to a respective support, said (or at least one of said) tool (s) comprises an open slot directed substantially in a direction of mounting said tool in said corresponding support; and
  • a single holding means immobilizing said tool in its respective support.

A machine of this kind, known in the document US 5,069,295 comprises a tool with a working part and a fixing part mounted in a support welded to the rotor of the machine. The attachment portion of the tool has a hook shape for mounting and holding it by a transverse axis. The tool is locked in its support by a stop device belonging to the support for the working position.

Mounting this tool in its support first requires coupling the hook of the attachment portion to the transverse axis and then to rotate the tool in the opposite direction of rotation of the rotor. The user must force the tool to lock in the working position. When disassembling, it must unblock the used tool before being able to uncouple it from the transverse axis. These assembly and disassembly operations are long, delicate and present risks for the user. On the other hand after many assembly and disassembly, the wear of the device for stopping the support no longer allows the tool to be held in the working position.

Another tillage machine is also known in the state of the art. Indeed, the patent application FR 2 148 368 discloses a soil preparation machine comprising a tool-carrying shaft and a large number of washers, supporting tools, arranged substantially evenly on the outer surface of said rotor. Each tool has a connecting part and a working part. Said tools are removably linked to said tool-holder shaft by means of a respective support. Said supports are, in turn, welded to the rotor, and each tool is held in its respective support by means of a bolt. To do this, said bolt passes right through the support and the corresponding tool. It thus constitutes a holding means which clamps the tool in the respective support. The rotor is connected, for its part, to a frame in a substantially horizontal position and strongly inclined relative to the direction of advance of said soil preparation machine. During work, the rotor is rotated about its longitudinal axis, and said tools strike the ground to prepare the soil for sowing.

On this known machine, when a tool must be replaced following a breakage for example, the user must, in order to separate said tool from its respective support, unblock and then completely unscrew the corresponding bolt. Then, after engaging a new tool in the support, the user must return said bolt in place and tighten it to a specific torque.

But experience shows that, in the field, these operations are not convenient to perform. Moreover on this type of agricultural machine, the repeated contact of the working tools with the ground generates a progressive wear of these. Therefore, after a certain number of hours of work, the user may also need to replace all the working tools on his machine. As a soil preparation machine can have up to several tens of work tools, this maintenance operation is particularly painful and time consuming.

The object of the present invention is to overcome this drawback of the state of the art by producing a tool whose assembly and disassembly operations are fast

and to realize a quick attachment of a working tool in its respective support.

According to the present invention, the agricultural tillage machine is characterized in that the axis of said open slot is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said tool. As a result, assembly / disassembly operations are simplified.

They only require unblocking and partial unscrewing of the bolt in order to separate a working tool from its respective support. Thus, during a replacement of the work tool, the intervention is short-term and allows significant time savings.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the soil working tool comprises on its connecting portion at least one obstacle intended to cooperate with a complementary shape of the holding means and / or the corresponding support.

• la figure 1 représente une vue latérale d'une machine de travail du sol, conforme à l'invention, en position de travail,
• la figure 2 représente une vue suivant la flèche 1 de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 représente, à une autre échelle, un tronçon du rotor de la machine de travail du sol visible sur la figure 2,
• la figure 4 représente, vu suivant la flèche II de la figure 3, un exemple de réalisation de la liaison entre un outil et le rotor,
• la figure 5 représente, vu suivant la flèche II, un exemple de réalisation d'un outil équipant le rotor de la figure 4,
• la figure 6 représente une coupe partielle de la figure 4 suivant III de la fixation de l'outil sur son support respectif,
• la figure 7 représente, vu suivant la flèche II de la figure 3, un autre exemple de réalisation de la liaison entre un outil et le rotor,
• la figure 8 représente, vu suivant la flèche II, l'autre exemple de réalisation d'un outil équipant le rotor de la figure 7,
• la figure 9 représente une coupe partielle de la figure 7 suivant IV de la fixation de l'outil sur son support respectif, à une autre échelle.

Other features of the invention will appear in the subclaims and in the following description of a non-limiting embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

• the figure 1 represents a side view of a tillage machine according to the invention, in working position,
• the figure 2 represents a view along arrow 1 of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 represents, on another scale, a section of the rotor of the soil working machine visible on the figure 2 ,
• the figure 4 represents, seen according to the arrow II of the figure 3 , an embodiment of the connection between a tool and the rotor,
• the figure 5 represents, seen along the arrow II, an embodiment of a tool equipping the rotor of the figure 4 ,
• the figure 6 represents a partial section of the figure 4 following III of fixing the tool on its respective support,
• the figure 7 represents, seen according to the arrow II of the figure 3 another embodiment of the connection between a tool and the rotor,
• the figure 8 represents, seen along the arrow II, the other embodiment of a tool equipping the rotor of the figure 7 ,
• the figure 9 represents a partial section of the figure 7 next IV of fixing the tool on its respective support, on another scale.

The figures 1 and 2 show a tillage machine according to the present invention in the form of a rotating mill (1). At work, said tillage machine (1) according to the figure 1 is coupled to a tractor (2), partially shown, which moves said machine in a field in a direction and a direction of advance indicated by the arrow (3). For this purpose, said tillage machine consists of a frame (4) and a rotor (5) for the preparation of the soil.

Said chassis (4) comprises in particular two lower coupling points (6) and an upper coupling point (7). Said coupling points (6, 7) are provided, in a manner known to those skilled in the art, for coupling said machine (1) to the lower arms (8) and the upper arm (9). a three-point hitch (10) of said tractor (2). During work, said rotary cutter (1) rests, at least partially, on the ground with a roller (11).

Said roller (11), arranged behind said rotor (5) in view of said feed direction (3), is connected to said frame (4) by means of two arms (12). The rear ends of said arms (12) rotate said roller (11) about an axis (13) substantially horizontal and transverse to the direction of advance (3). During work, said roll (11) can thus roll on the ground by pivoting around its longitudinal axis (14) substantially coincides with said axis (13). The front end of each arm (12) is, for its part, respectively linked to a lateral side of said frame (4) by means of a hinge (15). The axis of each articulation (15) is advantageously substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis (14) of said roller (11). In a manner known to those skilled in the art, the orientation of said arms (12) around said hinges (15) is adjustable. Thus, said roller (11) makes it possible to determine the working depth of said rotor (5) while actively participating in the preparation of the earth strip.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown, said rotor (5) is connected at each of its ends to said frame (4) by means of a respective hinge (16) so that the longitudinal axis (17) of said rotor (5) is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (14) of said roller (11). Said longitudinal axis (17) is substantially horizontal and directed transversely to said direction of advance (3) of said rotary milling cutter (1). During work, said rotor (5) is rotated about its longitudinal axis (17) counterclockwise (18) in view of the figure 1 . For this purpose, said rotary cutter (1) also comprises transmission elements (20, 21, 22) which connect, in a manner known to those skilled in the art, said rotor (5) to a power take-off (19) of said tractor (2). Said transmission elements (20, 21, 22) consist in particular of a universal joint drive shaft (20) which transmits a movement of the power takeoff (19) to a central casing (21). Said central casing (21) in turn drives the rotor (5) through a lateral casing (22).

As shown on Figures 2 to 3 , said rotor (5) consists of a carrier member having a substantially horizontal axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis (17) of the rotor (5), on which a multitude of flanges (24) are fixed. In this embodiment, the carrier member is in the form of a tube (23). Said flanges (24) are arranged at a substantially regular interval along said tube (23), and they extend respectively in planes substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (17) of said rotor (5). Each flange (24) advantageously supports four work tools (25) removably attached to a respective support (26). Said tools (25) of said rotary cutter (1) are driven into the ground and are rotated. Said tools (25) then loosen the earth and said roller (11), at the rear of said rotor (5), crush clods, cup and equalizes a strip of land for sowing.

Each tool (25) consists of a connecting portion (27) and a working portion (28). Said connecting portion (27) and said working portion (28) preferably extend in substantially parallel directions so as to form a planar overall shape. Said connecting part (27) is engaged in the corresponding support (26) and said working part (28) is the active part of said soil working machine (1). The task of said working part (28) of said tools (25) is to make the soil loose for sowing. Said tools (25) are arranged in pairs, and each pair is linked to a respective face of the flange (24) corresponding. Within the same pair, the two tools (25) are arranged substantially symmetrically about the longitudinal axis (17) of said rotor (5). Advantageously, the two pairs of tools (25) of the same flange (24) are offset from each other by an angle of about 90 degrees. As a result, the flange (24), visible on the figure 4 , has substantially the shape of a square, and each corner of said square supports a tool (25) of work. It will be noted that an angular offset between two immediately adjacent flanges (24) is advantageously of the order of 30 degrees, as shown in FIGS. figures 1 and 3 . Said tools (25) thus describe a quadruple helix along said tube (23). This results in a less jerky work, because during the rotation of said tube (23), said tools (25) strike the ground practically one after the other.

According to another exemplary embodiment of said rotary cutter (1) represented with its rotor (5) on the figure 2 said flanges (24) are not offset angularly with respect to each other. Therefore, every quarter turn of said rotor (5), a quarter of the tools (25) simultaneously hit the ground.

In the light of Figures 2 to 4 said tools (25) are not oriented radially with respect to said longitudinal axis (17) of the rotor (5). But, we see it more particularly on Figures 4 and 5 , the longitudinal axis (29) of each tool (25) is inclined rearward taking into account the direction of rotation (18) of said rotor (5). Such an orientation advantageously gives the tool (25) a plowing effect.

Each support (26) is in the form of a sheath (30) welded to one side of a corresponding flange (24). Each sheath (30) and the face of flange (24) corresponding form a housing (31) in which slides a respective tool (25). Said housing (31) has a shape complementary to said connecting portion (27) of a corresponding tool (25). The dimensions of said connecting portion (27) and of said housing (31) are advantageously chosen to ensure optimum mechanical play so as to favor rapid disassembly of said working tools (25) from their support (26), in this case the respective sleeve (30).

According to the exemplary embodiment according to the invention, maintaining the orientation of said tool (25) relative to said rotor (5) is mainly provided by said connecting portion (27) which comes into contact with said sleeve (30). ) corresponding. Said tillage machine (1) according to the invention also comprises a holding means (32) holding said working tool (25) in the respective sleeve (30). Said holding means (32) prevents disengagement between the working tool (25) and the corresponding sleeve (30).

As shown on the figure 5 each tool (25) has an open slot (33) at one end of said tool (25) for cooperating with said corresponding holding means (32). Said open slot (33) has substantially the shape of an oblong opening hole. Said open slot (33) is located opposite the working portion (28) of the corresponding tool (25). The longitudinal axis (34) of said open slot (33) is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (29) of said tool (25). Advantageously, said axis (34) of said open slot (33) is substantially coincidental with the longitudinal axis (29) of said tool (25). At the end of said connecting portion (27) of the corresponding tool (25) is a rear face (35). Advantageously, said slot (33) is made open to said rear face (35) of said tool (25), to allow rapid attachment of the tool (25) on said flange (24). During assembly, each tool (25) is slid into the corresponding sheath (30) by a translational movement in a mounting direction (36). Said open slot (33) is directed at least substantially in said mounting direction (36). In this example of embodiment visible on the figure 5 , the mounting direction (36) is directed in the direction of rotation (18) of the rotor (5). Said connecting part (27) penetrates into said housing (31) until the abutment of said open slot (33) against said holding means (32). Said holding means (32) passes through on the one hand, said flange (24) and said sheath (30) and on the other hand, said open slot (33) formed in said connecting portion (27) of said work tool ( 25).

In the embodiment following the figure 6 said holding means (32) is made by means of a screw (37). Said screw (37) is associated with a bearing washer (38) and a nut (39). When said tool (25) is mounted, its longitudinal axis (29) is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (17) of said rotor (5). Said screw (37) passes right through said sleeve (30), said flange (24) and the corresponding tool (25). Said screw (37) also contributes to the positioning of the tool (25) on said flange (24). The bottom of said open slot (33) must abut against said screw (37) to ensure positioning of the tools (25) generating a good distribution of forces on the working portion (28) and, therefore, wear uniform of said tools (25) on the same flange (24). Furthermore, said screw (37) being tightened, prevents translational movement between said tool (25) and said sleeve (30) in said mounting direction (36).

An advantage of the machine according to the invention is related to a rapid disassembly / reassembly of said working tools (25). Fixing each tool (25) on said flange (24) is performed removably with the aid of said screw (37). The replacement of the tools (25) can thus be carried out simply and quickly. For this purpose, it suffices to partially tighten or loosen said holding means (32). To simplify this operation, the head of the screw (37) is embedded in said sleeve (30) in order to eliminate the rotation of the head of said screw (37) during an action on the nut (39) corresponding. Said sleeve (30) advantageously has a shape (40) adapted to accommodate the head of said screw (37). Said bearing washer (38) and said nut (39) are, in turn, affixed to the flange (24) and easily accessible during a tool exchange.

In the exemplary embodiment shown according to the invention on the Figures 4 and 5 , the tool change operations (25) on said rotor (5) of said rotary cutter (1) is therefore to unlock the nut (39) to separate the tool (25) of said flange (24). The used tool being free, it is sufficient to pull said tool (25) out of the sheath (30) corresponding in a direction of disassembly (41). Said disassembly direction (41) is directed in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation (18) of said rotor (5). A new tool can finally be engaged in said sleeve (30) in said mounting direction (36). The locking of the tool (25) in the corresponding sleeve (30) is ensured by the clamping of said holding member (32) to a determined torque. In this embodiment, the user essentially acts on the nut (39), partially screwing or unscrewing, during assembly or disassembly of a tool (25).

The Figures 7 to 9 represent yet another embodiment of a quick attachment for an agricultural tillage machine according to the present invention. This other embodiment of a quick attachment of a tillage tool in its respective support comprises a number of elements that have been described above. These elements will therefore keep the same reference number and will not be described a second time.

The quick fastener according to this other embodiment is generally similar to said fastener shown in FIG. figure 6 . The only difference lies in the fact that said connecting portion (27) of said tool (25) comprises, in addition to the open slot (33), a visible obstacle on the figure 8 .

During operation of said agricultural soil working machine (1), it may happen that phenomena of matting of said fastening zone (27) or of vibration phenomena cause a loss of adhesion between the tool (25) and his dwelling (31). In such a case, the tool (25) could slip out of its housing (31). To remedy this problem, said connecting portion (27) is advantageously provided with an obstacle. Said obstacle is intended to cooperate with a complementary shape so as to retain somewhat the tool (25) in its housing (31).

In the exemplary embodiment shown on the Figures 8 and 9 , said obstacle is advantageously made by means of a cavity (42) and said complementary shape by said screw (37). Preferably, when mounting said tool (25) in said sleeve (30), the head of the screw (37) is caught in said cavity (42). Said head of the screw (37) associated with the cavity (42) thus constitutes a stop preventing any translational movement of said tool (25) in the disassembly direction (41). As represented more precisely on the figure 8 said cavity (42) is therefore formed at said open slot (33). The shape of said cavity (42) is preferably circular.

In the light of figure 9 it can be seen that the depth of the cavity (42) is relatively small. Preferably, this footprint (42) is less than one millimeter. Therefore, said stop still allows rapid disassembly of said tool (25).

According to another embodiment, not shown, said connecting portion (27) of the tool (25) may be provided with two indentations (42). The first fingerprint (42) is positioned in accordance with the above description while the second fingerprint (42) is provided on the opposite surface of said first fingerprint (42). Said second cavity (42) is thus in contact with said flange (24). Said flange (24) also has a complementary shape to achieve an obstacle.

The rotor (5) and the agricultural tillage machine (1) which have just been described, are only one embodiment and use that can not in any way limit the scope of protection defined by the claims following. Various modifications remain possible, in particular as regards the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents.

Thus it is perfectly possible to arrange the stop means (32) linking the working tools (25) to said tube (23) of said rotor (5) in a different manner than that shown in the figures . The tools (25) can be perfectly arranged so that they are, according to a side view of said rotor (5), offset by a different angle relative to each other about the axis of rotation (17) of the rotor (5).

It is also perfectly conceivable to put a different number of tools (25) per flange (24) and thus said tools (25) would be offset from each other by an angle other than 90 °.

It is still perfectly conceivable that the present invention finds its application on other tillage machines such as rotary harrows or agricultural machines composed of animated rollers following the movement of the tool on the ground.

It is also possible to make an impression (42) of any other shape, for example square, on the connecting portion (27) of the soil working tool (25).

In the exemplary embodiment shown on the Figures 8 and 9 said obstacle is formed by said tool (25) and said screw (37). It is also conceivable to create an obstacle by associating only said tool (25) and said flange (24). In such a case, for example associates a boss and a hollow made on the faces vis-à-vis said flange (24) and said tool (25).

Claims (19)

1. Agricultural soil-working machine comprising:

   - a chassis (4) which can be hitched to a tractor (2);

   - a rotor (5) connected to the said chassis (4) and driven in rotation during work about an axis (17), the said rotor (5) comprising:

   - at least one support (26) connected to a carrying member (23), the said support (26) comprising at least one sheath (30);

   - at least one tool (25) having a connecting portion (27) and a working portion (28) and connected removably to a respective support (26), the said or at least one of the said tool(s) (25) comprising an open slot (33) directed substantially in a direction for mounting (36) the said tool (25) in the said corresponding support (26); and

   - a single retention means (32) immobilizing the said tool (25) in its respective support (26)

   characterized in that the axis (34) of the said open slot (33) is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis (29) of the said tool (25).
2. Soil-working machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said open slot (33) belongs to the said connecting portion (27) of the said tool (25).
3. Soil-working machine according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the said open slot (33) is situated at the opposite end to the working portion (28).
4. Soil-working machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said slot (33) is open towards a rear face (35) of the said tool (25).
5. Soil-working machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the axis (34) of the said open slot (33) is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis (29) of the said tool (25).
6. Soil-working machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, when the said tool (25) is mounted in its respective support (26), the axis (34) of the said open slot (33) is substantially perpendicular to the axis (17) of the said rotor (5).
7. Soil-working machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, during mounting, the said open slot (33) of the said tool (25) butts against the said retention means (32).
8. Soil-working machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the said open slot (33) is of the open-ended oblong hole type.
9. Soil-working machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the said working portion (28) and the said connecting portion (27) are substantially situated in one and the same plane.
10. Soil-working machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the said retention means (32) passes through the said support (26) and the said tool (25).
11. Soil-working machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the said retention means (32) consists of a screw (37).
12. Soil-working machine according to Claim 11, characterized in that the head of the said screw (37) is sunk into the corresponding support (26).
13. Soil-working machine according to Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the said connecting portion (27) of the said tool (25) comprises at least one obstacle intended to interact with a matching shape of the retention means (32) and/or of the corresponding support (26).
14. Soil-working machine according to Claim 13, characterized in that the said obstacle is situated at the said open slot (33).
15. Soil-working machine according to Claim 13, characterized in that the said screw (37) forms the said matching shape.
16. Soil-working machine according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the said obstacle is made by a recess (42).
17. Soil-working machine according to Claim 16, characterized in that the depth of the said recess (42) is less than one millimetre.
18. Soil-working machine according to Claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the said recess (42) is of circular shape.
19. Soil-working machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 18, characterized in that it forms a rotary tiller (1).

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